The Gaming Industry Lost Its Pioneer. Ralph Baer Passes Away at 92

The video game industry lost one of its founding members over the weekend. Ralph Baer, better known as the ‘father of video games,’ died at the age of 92.

Today’s multi-billion dollar industry was first conceived back in 1966. At the time, Baer was exploring the idea of playing video games on a TV screen. Two years later, he finished his prototype, dubbed the Brown Box. In 1972, the Brown Box technology was unveiled as the Magnavox Odyssey. It was the world’s first commercial video game console, and the beginning of a whole new culture for millions of people.

Here’s a video of Ralph Baer demonstrating the Brown Box back in 1969.

Baer’s creations didn’t stop with the Brown Box. He created the first video game light gun and game. And, co-developed the memory game Simon with Howard J. Morrison.

In recent years, Baer was recognized for his work with video games. He was awarded the National Medal of Technology in 2006 and was inducted into the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame in 2010.

Baer’s first creation back in the late 1960s has turned into a love shared by hundreds of millions of people today. When you fire up your favorite game tonight, remember Ralph Baer.